My mom found this insect on one of her plants, and she would like to know what it is and whether it is dangerous or harmful. I've done some research and I think it is a nymph of a Zelus renardii, but it could also be a nymph of a Zelus luridus, although the latter is usually found only in North America. Can anyone tell me which one it is, or at least whether it is indeed one of these two?
Some more info:
- It was found in Milan, Italy, a few days ago
- It was on a geranium, where it can find the larvae of a butterfly called geranium bronze (Cacyreus marshalli)
- She's also found two more insects like this one on a Pittosporum
- She has seen it by day
- The body is mainly light-brown with some yellow and orange spots
- The legs are also light-brown, with some darker spots that seen from very close are actually spikes (see the last picture)
- The length of its body is around 1 cm, and it is arched upwards
- I've uploaded some more pictures here. You can ignore the "Not sharp" folder. In the "Sharp" one (which are mostly not that sharp either, but it's the best I have) there's a cropped picture next to each of the full-size ones. Those that I have attached here are chosen among the cropped ones.